Re: Another article for your doctor

[Guest guest]

e:

Hi. What is a silicone antibody test? Is it a blood test ? Duh--lol.

LM

[Guest guest]

Rogene, Just wanted to let you know that this article is very good, very simple and easy to understand. I am actually seeing a new PCP in early Aug, and I plan to bring this article to her and discuss my health problems. I'm curious to see what she says and what her stance is. I'm also curious to see if she will be willing to do any of the recommended lab tests. I have already had silicone antibody testing done, and it came back positive. I will keep you all posted as to what happens when I see her in Aug. e ----- Original Message ----- From: Rogene S Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 8:23 AM Subject: Another article for your doctor Check website, and print from there . . . does notcopy and paste correctly. . . you might send thiswebsite to your doctor, or mail a copy.Rogene============================Silicone Immune Toxicity Syndrome – from the EdelsonCenter in Alanta, GeorgiaOverviewIt is estimated that since 1962, between one and twomillion women have had silicone breast implants toenhance their physical appearance. Some 30 yearslater, thousands of women are second guessing thewisdom of this choice because they are now sufferingwith a new illness, silicone toxicity and immunedysfunction syndrome. This major health problem arosebecause of failure at many levels to protect the wellbeing of humans in our world. I think it is importantto understand a little bit about the silicone implantitself, which is covered by a shell or the envelopewhich is made of silicone in the form of asemi-permeable membrane.I think the big problem here was that it was thoughtthat this membrane would keep the silicone inside thebag. It does not and the silicone leaves the bag andis found outside of the silicone implant. As a matterof fact, it has been found all over the body, not justin the capsules surrounding the implant. The siliconeis picked up by scavenger cells (macrophages) of ourimmune system and carried around the body. Variousthings happen where the exact mechanisms are unknown,but there is definite immune system dysregulation thatoccurs leading to a new syndrome. I think that this isan important point.Until now, researchers have been trying to link thissilicone disaster with old diseases of the autoimmunetype like scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, andLupus. In fact, they will never be able to link thisproblem to those diseases because we have the newdisease and they are not looking at it in that way. Iwill go on to describe the characteristics of the newdisease, but to try and link them to the old diseasewill get you nowhere. I don't know why researchersthink that this is the direction to follow.I think that in addition to the immune system beingdysregulated. (I won't go into the details whichexplain how that happens), there is the onset ofmolecular damage called free radical or oxidant injurythat occurs from the silicone being in the body. Thiscauses another set of symptoms that are part of thesyndrome. There are so many possible symptoms that thepatient experiences. We will mention only the majorones. They are:Peripheral neuropathyCentral neural toxic neuropathyCervical and axillary lymphadenopathyFibromyalgiaMyocytisFatigueNight sweatsHair lossAbdominal painPulmonary hypersensitivity with dyspneaEmotional instabilityJoint and tendon painMultiple chemical sensitivitiesFood and inhalant sensitivitiesSkin problemsAs I said, these are the major symptoms and there areothers. When a patient suffers with the above typesymptomatology and also has a history of breastimplants, one should do a thorough evaluation lookingat the comprehensiveness of an environmental historyand physical examination. One should rule out diseaseslike Lyme disease, multiple sclerosis, etc.Studies of the immune system includes T-cell siliconeimmune study, silicone antibodies, complete autoimmunity studies, immunoglobulin investigation, immunecomplex studies, biochemical profiles, fungal andbacteriological studies and skin testing. In addition,more complex studies might include PET, SPECT, beam,and EMG studies of the nervous system, as well aspulmonary function tests, MRIs of the breasts, andcomprehensive digestive, and pancreatic studies if soindicated. The therapy for these patients needs to bedirected at the flaws that are found in the patient'sbiochemistry and immune systems. Just to mention a fewof the areas that should be looked into as far astherapy, one would include:Dietary managementExercise adviceIntravenous nutritional therapy for detoxification andanti-oxidationOral nutritional supplementationImmunotherapy to chemicals, foods, inhalants, andsilicone if necessary Environmental and chemicalcontrols of the individual's home and place ofbusinessVaried immune modulation techniques including:Thymus therapyIntravenous gamma globulinDHEATransfer factor depending on the individual's specificproblemsThis is a very complicated illness and should only betaken care of by people with the comprehensivebackground in dealing with toxic environmentalmaterials and their effects on the human organism.With this knowledge, these patients can be helpedgreatly in achieving a normal life again. It justtakes time, patience, and hard work. The answer tothis disease is not the use of drugs for the symptomsthat occur.Continue reading for more information on the impact ofSilicone Toxicity on system functioning.CauseThere are several forms of the chemical in breastimplants that can cause a problem in the humanorganism. Silicon (Si) is the basic element andprobably causes immune system changes. Silica or SiO2(chemical formula) is the form it is mined from theearth. Silicone gel is a synthetic material containing38% silicon. The silica is 45% silicon.There is slow leakage ("bleeding") of the silicone gelfrom the implants through the semi-permeable membraneenvelope and also into and through the capsule thatsurrounds the implants. This is picked up by themicrophages (scavenger cells) of our immune system andis broken down inside these cells which travel allover the body. The gel breaks down inside these cells,which travel all over the body. The gel breaks downinto Silica and Silicon which causes an immune systemdysregulation. Thus, there are antibodies producedagainst the silicon and also against the silicon andprotein complex (organ systems) so that you getautoimmune illness.As well, there is also damage that is not related tothe immune system, because the silicone gel causesoxidants (damaging molecules) to be produced thatdirectly damage our cell walls, DNA, and enzymesystems. All of this adds up to slowly-developingchronic debilitating illness affecting every organsystem of the body.SymptomatologyThere are so many possible symptoms that the patientmay experience. I shall only mention the major oneshere. Almost any symptom can be related to thissyndrome, either directly or indirectly.Peripheral Neuropathy (weakness, tingling, numbness,etc.)Central Neurotoxic Neuropathy (cognitive difficulties,memory problems, hyperactivity, attention deficits)Cervical and axillary enlarged or painful lymph nodesFibromyalgia (multiple tender areas)Myositis (painful inflamed muscles)FatigueNight sweatsHair lossAbdominal painPulmonary hypersensitivity (shortness of breath, etc.)Emotional instabilityJoint and tendon painMultiple Chemical SensitivitiesFood and inhalant sensitivitiesHow Is This Syndrome Evaluated?1. In-depth history (including details of implantproblems)2. Physical examination3. Studies to rule out other conditions such as Lymedisease, multiple sclerosis, etc.Various laboratory studies:Immune studies (Complex)T-Cell Silicone Immune StudyFungal or Bacteriological Studies (if indicated)Biochemical profileSkin testing (if needed)Address each organ system damage individuallydepending on patient's complaintsBrain: PET, SPECT, BEAM, EMG, etc.Pulmonary: PFTRheumatological: Snyovial FluidBreast: MRI, XeromammographyGI: Digestive studies, pancreatic malfunctionImmunological: Chemical Antibodies, SiliconeAntibodies, T-Lymphocyte subpopulation, ActivatedLymphocytes, Lymphocyte Immune Function, NaturalKiller Cells and Activity, Immune Complexes,Complement Levels, ANA, Autoantibody Analysis (Myelin,Striated Muscle, Thyroid, Skin Antibody, CollagenAntibody), Skin Testing (chemicals, foods, etc.).Immunological And Non-Immunological Damage. Damage tothe immune system leads to various autoimmunesituations. Direct damage from free radical oxidantmolecules leads to diffuse organ system damagingeffectsTherapy1. Diet: Organic, High alkaline, semi-vegetarian,moderately high protein2. Exercise: Moderate low-impact (daily)3. Intravenous nutritional therapy: Detoxification,Antioxidant4. Nutritional supplementation (oral)5. Immunotherapy: Chemicals, Foods, Silicon, Inhalants6. Environmental and chemical controls7. Immune modulation ; Transfer factor, DHEA, Immunestimulants: Thymus, herbals, etc., Intravenous GammaGlobulinhttp://www.ephca.com/Diseases_Treatment/sits.htm__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Yes, it takes several vials of blood to run all the things they run, however, it's worth getting a good idea of what's going on~

MM

Martha Murdock, DirectorNational Silicone Implant Foundation | Dallas Headquarters"Supporting Survivors of Medical Implant Devices"4416 Willow LaneDallas, TX 75244-7537

----- Original Message -----

From: perlesetlacet@...

Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 11:54 PM

Subject: Re: Another article for your doctor

e:Hi. What is a silicone antibody test? Is it a blood test ? Duh--lol.LM

[Guest guest]

-Marie,

Yes, a silicone antibody test is a blood test. However, I guess depending

on where you live, the lab you use may not have an easy time understanding

what to do with the blood.

When my rheumy ordered mine, it was sent to LabCorp, which has since been

bought by Quest Diagnostics, and LabCorp had no clue how to code it or bill

for it. They had to call my rheumy and ask him exactly what he wanted and

they just hand wrote it. But I got the results. The only problem my rheumy

had with the test was that he said that it doesn't necessarily indicate my

implants caused the increased levels of silicone in my body. Occupational

exposure could have caused it, as could any beauty products, vitamins/foods,

etc. So, just because we may have an elevated result, doesn't mean that

it's definitively from our implants. It just means that we have been

exposed to silicone at some time in our lives. Similar to lyme disease. I

test positive for lyme disease, but I don't have it. It simply means that I

was exposed to it when I lived in NJ (where I grew up). Another example is

TB. Some of us have positive TB tests, but we don't have the disease. We

have just been exposed to it. Measures are instituted to prevent getting

full blown TB, but otherwise, it just means somewhere, sometime, we were

exposed to someone with TB and have developed antibodies (I have never

tested positive for TB, but a good friend in Denver did--she was one of the

IV/PICC nurses).

Just some more food for thought.

e

>From: perlesetlacet@...

>Reply-

>

>Subject: Re: Another article for your doctor

>Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 00:54:26 EDT

>

>e:

>Hi. What is a silicone antibody test? Is it a blood test ? Duh--lol.

>

>LM

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